Acetylene-gas generator.



- No. 704,032. Patented July s, |902. l. L. HARRIS.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Aug. 31, 1901.)

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Patented luly 8, |902.

l. L. HARRIS.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERTOR.

(Application-'med Aug. 31, 19m-.y

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 704,032. .Patented July 8, |902.

I. L. HARRIS. Y

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATDR.V

(Application filed Aug. 31, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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v UNITED STATS PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC LEONARD HARRIS, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- IIALF TO HUGH PARTRIDGE, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

ACETY'LEN E-GAS G ENERATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 704,032, dated July 8, 1902.

Application led August 3l., 190].. Serial No. 74,007. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concer-71,: I

Be it known that I, ISAAC LEONARD HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of D uval and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Acetylene-Gas Generatonof which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved acetylene-gas generator; and it consists in the peculiar conro struction and combination of devices hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an acetylene-gas generator constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the same in operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same in inoperative position with the gasvalve between the generator and the gas-bell closed, the lock-bar disengaged from the cover zo of the carbid-magazine, the vent-pipe open, and the sludge discharge valve unlocked. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken on a plane indicated by the line c c of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on a plane indicated by the line b b of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar View taken on a plane indicated by the line c'c of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the carbid-magazine and the carbid-feed valve. Fig. 7 is a detail 5o horizontal sectional View of the same, taken on a plane indicated by the line d d of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the link rod. Fig. 9 is a similar View of the weighted yoke-link.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a tank 1, in the lower portion of which is the generating-tank 2 and the upper portion of which forms the water-tank 3,in which the gas-bell 4 is floated. The crown of the 4o generating tank or chamber 2 is preferably ot' conical form and is provided at its center with a vertical tubular neck 5, which extends for a suitable distance above the top of the water-tank and through the same. The bell 4 is provided in its center with a descending tubular leg 6, through which the 'neck 5 passes, the diameter of the said leg Gbeing greater than that of the said neck. In the latter is removably fitted a carbid-magazine 5o 7, which is suspended in the neck by a flange 8 at the upper end of the said carbid-magazine, which flange engages and rests upon the upper end of the neck. Hence the said carbid-magazine is adapted to be removed by simply lifting the same out of the neck 5. I further provide a tubular cover 9 for the carbid-magazine, which fits over and around the same and the neck 5 and between the latter and the descending leg 6 of the gas-bell and is eitectually sealed bythe water in the tank 3. Hence gas is prevented from escaping through the carbid-magazine. A gas-pipe 10 leads from the gas-space of the bell 4. ln the crown ofthe generating-chamber 2 is formed a bridge or arched portion 1l, on the upper side of which is a dome 12. Agas-inlet pipe 13 is secured to this dome and extends upward through the water in the water-tank 3 and Within the gas-bell. The upper end of the pipe 13 is at the level of the water in the tank 3, and the lower end of the said pipe extends downwardly in the said dome 12, as shown. The upper and lower ends of the said pipe 13 are open, and said pipe serves to convey the gas from the generating-chamber 2 to the gas-space in the bell `and to also convey water from the water-tank 3 to the said generating tank or chamber 2 when the water in the said tank 3 overows the said pipe 13. I provide a cup-shaped valve 14 to close the lower end of the pipe 13, and thereby cut oil gas communication between the generatingchamber 2 and the--gas-bell. The said valve -14 is filled with water, and when raised to close the lower end of thefpipe 13 the water in said valve 14 seals the lower end of said pipe and effectually prevents the passage of gas from the generating-.chamber 2 to the gasbell, as will be understood. A vent-pipe 15 leads from the generating-chamber 2 at a point a suitable height above the water-level therein and within the arch o1' bridge 11, and in the said vent-pipe is a valve 16, provided with a handle 17. On the outer side of the generating-chamber 2 is an overflow-spout 13, 95 through which any excess of water is discharged into an outer chamber communicating with the Waste-pipe. A water seal for this pipe is formed by a chamberv2l, extending partly within the gas-generating chammo ber, the side of the main casing extending down into said chamber to form a seal which feed valve 24 is placed in the bottom of the magazine and is adapted to operate in said opening 23 and is supported when lowered by a bottom plate 25, which is here shown as secured under the bottom of the carbid-magazine by bolts 26. Said plate 25 has a central opening 27, which is of less diameter than the base of the conical valve 24. The latter is provided with a series of vertical guiderods 28, which rise from the upper side thereofand operatein the openingin the reducer 22.

The reducer 22 supports t-he weight of the bulk of the carbid in the magazine 7 and relieves the valve 24 thereof, the valve partially supporting the weight only of that quantity of the carbid which is below the said reducer 22. The latter, as Will be understood, causes the carbid in the bottom of the magazine to be piled up in conical form above the valve 24, and the latter when it is raised has merely to displace some of the carbid upwardly, and as the valve rises the carbid surrounding the base of the same flows'inwardly onto the plate 25 and through the opening 27, from which it is precipitated to the water in the generating-chamber 2. Such of the carbid as fails to pass through the opening 27 remains piled on that portion of the botlom plate 25 which is within the opening 23, so that upon the redescent of the valve the tapered or inclined inner Walls thereof will Vcut through the carbid on the bottom plate 25, displace a portion thereof, and canse it to fall through the opening 27.

The gas-bell is provided at its upper end with an outwardly-projecting tappet-arm 29, which operates in a vertical guide 30, that is secured on one side of the tank 1 at the upper end of the latter. From the said tappetarm 29 depends a link rod 31, which has its lower end bent to form an eye 32. The said link rod has its upper end passed through and adapted to play loosely in an opening in the tappet-arm 29 and is provided with a nut 33, which secures it to the said tappet-arm and causes said link rod to rise and fall with {,)halsaid tappet-arm by the motion of the gas- A lever 34 is mounted in the generatingchamber `2 below the level of the body of water therein, the fulcrum of the said lever being indicated at 35. The said lever has a crook 36 to enable it to pass through the sealchamber 21 outwardly into the spout 18. A

trip-rod 37 is attached to the outerend of the said lever, passes upwardly through the eye 32 of the link rod 31, and has a button orhead 38 on its upper end, which isadapted to be engaged by the tappet-arm 29 on the descent of the bell, whereby the said trip-rod is caused said yoke-link tends to swing toward thetank 1, and thereby move trip-rod 37 into a position where the button or head 38'thereof will be engaged by the tappet-arm 29 when the bell descends. The lever 17 of the ventvalve 16 has an arm 43, which when said lever 17 is turned upwardly to open said ventvalve engages the inner side of the trip-rod 37 and moves the latter outwardly to disengage the head or button 38 thereof from the tappet-arm 29, and thereby permit the carbid-feedy valve to be closed by the weight40 when the bell is at the lower limit of its movement. This also prevents the feeding of carbid by the descent of the gas-bell while gasinlet valveis closed and the vent-valve open, thus preventing automatic action of the machine. The valve 14 being also connected to said lever 17 when the latter is thus upturned to trip the rod 37 from the tappet-arm 29 said valve 14 is raised and closed under the lower end of the pipe 13, thereby permitting the escape of gas from the chamber 2 through theventpipe, While cutting off the passage of gas from said chamber to the gas-bell.

It is desirable to prevent the cover 8 from being removed while the machine is in alltomatic operation. To accomplish this, I provide a lock-bar 44, the outer end of which is pivotally connected, as at 45, to the upper end of the guide 30. The said lock-bar is connected by a rod 46 to the lever 17 of valve 16, and when the said lever is in its normal position, (shown in Fig.1,) with the valve 16 closed, the same and the rod 46 dispose the lock-bar in a horizontal position,with its inner end .projecting over the cover 9, thereby preventing the latter from being removed'. When the lever 17 is upturned, as shown in Fig. 2, said lock-bar is raised out of the path of the cover 9, and the latter may be then removed.

The tank 2 is provided near its lower end on one side with a sludge-discharge valve 47, by means of which the sludge or spent carbid, together with the water in the tank or chamber 2, may be drawn therefrom when it becomes necessary to clean out the said tank 2. It is desirable to prevent the opening of the valve 47 when the machine is in automatic operation, and to effect this I provide a connecting-rod 48, which connects the valve IOO IIOv

47 to the lever 17 of vent-valve 16 and comprises the sections 49 50, the former being telescopically connected to the latter. When the vent-valve 16 is closed and the machine is in automatic operation, the sections 49 50 of connecting-rod 48 coact as stops to prevent the opening of the valve 47, as will be understood by an inspection of Fig. 1 of the drawings. Vhen the lever 17 is in an upturned position to open the valve 16, the section 49 of rod 48 moves upwardly in the section 50, thereby permitting the latter to be moved independently of said section 49, and hence permitting the valve 47 to be opened, as will be apparentv from an inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will be understood that when the water is withdrawn from the tank 2 a water seal will be formed and maintained in the lower portion of the spout 18 and in the sealchamber 21, which will prevent the escape of gas through the spout 18 into the room.

In the bottom of the tank 2 is a shaker-bar 5l for stirring up the sludge priorto the discharge thereof through the valve 47. Said bar 51 is bent to form an upwardly-extending shank 52, which extends through the spout 13 andastufng-box 53 at the lower end thereof, and at the upper end of the said shank 52 is formed an outwardly-turn ed handle-bar 54, by means of which the said stirring-bar 51 may be operated. n

The gas-pipe l0 discharges into a tank 55, in the upper portion of which is a purifyingchamber 56, here shown as iilled with cotton or other suitable material, through which the gas must pass to the service-pipe 57. Water of condensation drips into a cup 5S at the lower end of the tank 55, which cup is provided on one side with an inlet-funnel 59, by means of which it may be filled with water. A pipe extends downwardly from a chamber 6l in tank 55 into the water in the cup 5S. The gas is discharged from the pipe 10 into the chamber 6l. In the event of an excess in the pressure of the gas the water in the lower end of the pipe 60 will be displaced and the excess gas will escape through the water in the cup 5S and through a pipe 62, that leads therefrom. During the operation of the machine when the bell is raised by the pressure of gas thereunder the link rod 3l by engagement with the head or button 38 of trip-rod 37 locks the bell at a predetermined elevated point and causes the valve 24 to be the more tightly held in a closed position, the gas-pressure being thereby utilized to insure the closing of the carbid-feed valve and cut oi the supply of carbid to the generating-chamber. When the bell descends, the tappet-arm 29 by engagement with the head or button 38 depresses the trip-rod 37, thereby causing the lever 34 to raise the carbid-feed valve and cause a quantity of carbid to be fed to the generatingchamber. In the initial ensuing ascent of the bell the button 38 is disengaged by the tappet 29, and the weight 40 closes the carbidfeed valve, thereby preventing the generation of an excessive quantity of the gas. Hence terrupting the supply of gas to the burner,

and the generating-tank may be cleaned without permitting the escape of gas therefro into the room.

Having thus described my invention, I

l. In an acetylene-gas generator, a generating-tank, a water-tank, a gas-bell in the latter, a gas-pipe leading from the generatingchamber to the gas-space of the bell, a cupshaped valve situated in the generating-tank and having a body of water adapted to close and seal the lower end of said gas-passage, said valve being arranged immediately below the gas-pipe and adapted to receive its sealing-water from the overflow through said gaspipe, and a dome or casing surrounding the lower end of the gas-pipe and serving to receive and guide the valve.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, a generating-tank having a vent-pipe, a valve in said vent-pipe, an operating-lever for said valve, a water-tank above the generator, a gas-bell in the latter, a gas-pipe leading up through the water-tank from said generating-tank to the gas-space of the bell and having openup- 5 per and lower ends, a valve having a body of water adapted to close and seal the open lower end of said gas-pipe, and a rod connecting said operating-lever and sealing-valve for simultaneously opening the valve of the ventpipe and closing the valve of the gas-pipe.

3. An acetylene gas generator having a vent-valve and a sludge-discharge valve, in combination with a telescopic rod connecting said valves, the lower rod-section being connected to the sludge-valve and the upper to the vent-valve, whereby an opening movement of said vent valve will release said sludge-valve, and a closing movement of the vent-valve will lock and close said sludgevalve.

4. In an acetylene-gas generator, a gas-generating tank having a lower opening for the discharge of water and sludge, an overiiowspout arranged above said opening, a water seal formed by an open-top chamber communicating with the interior of the tank and with the spout on the exterior of said tank, the side wall of the tank being extended below the top of said chamber to form a water seal andA the chamber4 serving to retain a quantity of water and thus prevent the escape of gas through the spout when the'water and sludge are withdrawn through the lower dischargeopening.

5. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of the generator tank having a valved vent-pipe, .an operating-handle se- IIO cured to said valve, a Water-tank, a gas-bell situated therein and having a movable element, a carbid-magazine, a carbid-feed valve therefor, a valve-operating rod connected to the carbid-feed valveancl mounted in operable relation to the movable element of the gas-bell, a Weight normally maintaining said rod in operative position, and a finger orlug carried by the Vent-valve lever and adapted to move said rod to inoperative position when the vent-valve is opened, substantially as specified. 6. In an acetylene-gas generator, the oombination of a gas-bell, a carbid-feed valve, a trip-rod connected to the feed-valve7 a tappet on the gas-bell adapted to depress said trip-rod when the bell descends-and thereby open the carbid-feed Valve, a Weight normally acting to hold the trip-rod in operative relation to the tappet, means for moving said rod from operative position, a link depending from the tappet and having an eye surrounding and forming a guide for the trip-rod, said link being adapted to engage with the upper end of the trip-rod on the ascent of the gasbell and thereby to look said carbid-valve in Closed position, substantially as specified.

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ISAAC LEONARD HARRIS. "Witnesses:

JN0. M. STEVENS, N. J .ALLBITon 

